Payment cards and devices operable to receive point-of-sale actions before point-of-sale and forward actions at point-of-sale

ABSTRACT

A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV), 61/026,846 filed on Feb. 7, 2008 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV2),61/027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008 (Docket. No. JDM/020 PROV), 61/081,003filed on Jul. 15, 2008 (Docket No. D/005 PROV), 61/086,239 filed on Aug.5, 2008 (Docket No. D/006 PROV), 61/090,423 filed on Aug. 20, 2008(Docket No. D/007 PROV), 61/097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008 (Docket No.D/008 PROV), 61/112,766 filed on Nov. 9, 2008 (Docket No. D/009 PROV),61/117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008 (D/010 PROV), 61/119,366 filed on Dec.2, 2008 (Docket No. D/011 PROV), and 61/120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008(Docket No. D/012 PROV), all of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.

Payment card transactions are slow. A user may need to wait in linebefore performing actions on an ATM. A user may need to wait for awaitress to bring him/her a receipt before calculating a tip for apurchase. A user may need to wait for a cashier to prompt the user toperform actions at a card reader before the user can perform suchactions. Such traditional systems are deficient as a user may spend alarge amount of time at a payment card reader interacting with thepayment card reader. It is therefore desirable to decrease the amount oftime a user may need to interact with a payment card reader.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that maytransmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magneticemulator. The magnetic emulator may be, for example, a circuit thatemits electromagnetic fields operable to electrically couple with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader such that data may be transmittedfrom the circuit to the magnetic stripe reader. The emulator may beoperated serially such that information is transmitted serially to amagnetic stripe reader. Alternatively, for example, portions of amagnetic emulator may emit different electromagnetic fields at aparticular instance such that the emulator is operated to providephysically parallel, instantaneous data. Alternatively still, a magneticmedium may be provided and a circuit may be provided to change themagnetic properties of the magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader is operable to read information written on the magnetic medium.

A processor may be provided on a card, or other device, that controls amagnetic emulator. The processor may be configured to operate theemulator such that the emulator transmits serial or parallelinformation. Particularly, the processor may decouple portions of anemulator from one another such that different portions of the emulatormay transmit different information (e.g., transmit data in a paralleloperation). The processor may couple portions of an emulator together(or drive the portions together) such that all portions of the emulatortransmits the same information (e.g., transmit data in a serialoperation). Alternatively, the processor may drive a portion of theemulator to transmit data using one method (e.g., serially) while theprocessor drives another portion of the emulator using a differentmethod (e.g., in parallel).

The processor may drive an emulator through a switching circuit. Theswitching circuit may control the direction and magnitude of currentthat flows through at least a portion of an emulator such that theswitching circuit controls the direction and magnitude of theelectromagnetic field created by at least that portion of the emulator.An electromagnetic field may be generated by the emulator such that theemulator is operable to electrically couple with a read-head from amagnetic stripe reader without making physical contact with theread-head. Particularly, for example, an emulator that is driven withincreased current can be operable to couple with the read-head of amagnetic stripe reader even when placed outside and within the proximityof (e.g., 0.25 inches or more) the read-head.

A processor may detect, for example, the presence of a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader by receiving signals from a magnetic stripereader detector and, in response, the processor may drive a magneticemulator in a manner that allows the emulator to couple with themagnetic stripe reader. More than one emulator may be provided on a cardor other device and a processor may drive such emulators in a variety ofdifferent manners.

A circuit may be provided on a credit card that is operable to receivedata from a device, such as a magnetic stripe. In this manner, a card,or other device, may communicate bi-directionally with a device.

An emulator may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader outside of,for example, the housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, forexample, the emulator may be provided in devices other than cards sizedto fit inside of the reading area of a magnetic stripe reader. In otherwords, for example, the emulator may be located in a device that isthicker than a card—yet the emulator can still communicate with one ormore read-heads located in a magnetic stripe reader. Such a device maybe, for example, a security token, a wireless communications device, alaptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a physical lock key to ahouse and/or car, or any other device.

Dynamic information may be provided by a processor located on the card,or other device, and communicated through a magnetic emulator. Suchdynamic information may, for example, change based on time. For example,the dynamic information may be periodically encrypted differently. Oneor more displays may be located on a card, or other device, such thatthe dynamic information may be displayed to a user through the display.Buttons may be provided to accept input from a user to, for example,control the operation of the card or other device.

Dynamic information may include, for example, a dynamic number that isused as, or part of, a number for a credit card number, debit cardnumber, payment card number, and/or payment verification code. Dynamicinformation may also include, for example, a student identificationnumber or medical identification number. Dynamic information may also,for example, include alphanumeric information such that a dynamicaccount name is provided.

Read-head detectors may be provided to determine, for example, when acard is being swiped and/or when a read-head is located over aparticular portion of a card (e.g., a magnetic emulation circuit). Amagnetic emulation circuit may be provided as, for example, a coil.Portions of such a coil may be utilized to detect a read-head while inother portions of the coil may be utilized to communicate informationelectromagnetically to a read-head. Accordingly, a coil may be utilizedto detect a read-head and, after a read-head is detected, the coil maybe utilized to, for example, serially transmit information to a magneticstripe reader.

A read-head detector, or an array of read-head detectors, may be ableto, for example, determine the type of reader that the card enteredinto. For example, a read-head detector array may determine, forexample, when a motorized reader was utilized, an insertion reader wasutilized, or a user-swipe reader was utilized. Such information may bestored and communicated to a remote storage device (e.g., a remotedatabase). This stored information may be utilized to combat, forexample, card cloning. For example, if a particular number of cards(e.g., 10 more) that made consecutive purchases from a machine (e.g., anATM) detected more than one reader, then, for example, the system maymake an autonomous determination that an illegal cloning device waslocated on front of that ATM machine. If, for example, multiple cardsuse a restaurant point-of-sale terminal and determine that multiplereaders were used then, for example, a computer can make an autonomousdetermination that cloning may have occurred at the restaurant.

A material may be sandwiched between the two layers to assist inreducing the affect of the electromagnetic fields from one set of coilsegments on the side of the material opposite that set of coil segments.Such an interior material may be insulated such that the material doesnot short the coil segments. Additionally, such an interior material maybe chosen, for example, such that the material does not saturate whenthe coil is conducting current. The coil and material may run, forexample, along the location of a track of magnetic data for a paymentcard. Accordingly, a coil may be fabricated so that the coil wrapsaround an interior material.

A material may be placed and/or printed on a PCB layer and sandwichedbetween two other PCB layers. These two other layers may each includecoil segments and vias. The middle layer may also include vias such thatthe material is fabricated to be located in the center of the coil. Thematerial may take a cylindrical, rectangular, square, or any type ofshape. Four layers may also be utilized, where the coil segments areprinted on a surface of the exterior layers and one or more materialsare printed and/or placed on/between the interior layers. A material maybe a magnetic material, ferromagnetic material, ferrimagnetic material,or any type of material. For example, copper may be printed on a PCBlayer and plated with a material (e.g., nickel, iron, chrome, tin, gold,platinum, cobalt, zinc, alloys). A material, for example, may have arelative permeability multiple times greater than the permeability of avacuum. A material, for example, may have a permeability of 2 to 25,000.A material may include, for example, a permalloy, iron, steel, ferrite,nickel or any other material. A material may be an alloy such as anickel-iron alloy. Such a nickel-iron alloy may include, for example,nickel (e.g., 75-85%), iron, copper, molybdenum and may be placedthrough one or more annealing processes. Annealing may occur beforeand/or after the material is placed/printed on a layer of material(e.g., a PCB layer or other layer). A similar and/or different materialmay be placed either above and/or below a portion, or the entire, set ofpaths on a layer for a coil. Accordingly, a material may be placed inthe interior of a coil as well as along a side of the coil.

Displays may be provided near user interfaces or other structures. Forexample, a display may be provided next to an LED. Cards may beprogrammed during manufacturing so that these displays may displayparticular information. Accordingly, for example, the same cardarchitecture may be utilized to provide a number of different types ofcards. A user may utilize user interfaces (e.g., mechanical orcapacitive interfaces) to change the function of the display. Forexample, codes may be entered to reconfigure the displays.Alternatively, for example, a user may utilize buttons to selectinformation to be displayed on displays associated with user interfaces.A code may associate a name of a store with a button and/or a dollaramount. For example, a display may be configured to read “Target $50.”Information may be entered manually, but also may be received by a card.For example, a user may swipe a card a second time through a magneticstripe reader and receive information via a magnetic emulator. Thisreceived information may be utilized to update information on the card(e.g., the balance of a gift card, credit account, and/or debitaccount). Information may also be received by an RFID antenna and/or ICchip located on a card and in communication with a central processor (ordistributed processors). For example, transaction information (e.g.,list of past transactions, stores where transactions occurred, amountsof transactions) and account information (e.g., balance information,bill information, amount due information) may be communicated to thecard and displayed on one or more displays.

A dynamic card may be manufactured in a variety of ways. For example, adynamic card may be printed onto a flexible material (e.g., a flexiblepolymer). Multiple layers of this material may be bonded together toform a multiple layer flexible structure. This multiple layer structuremay be laminated (e.g., via hot, warm and/or cold lamination) to form acard. The card may be programmed before or after lamination. A card maybe programmed via a direct connection between a programmer and one ormore contacts on a card. A card may be programmed via a capacitive,optical, or inductive communication via a communication link between aprogrammer and one or more components (e.g., a contact) on a card.Accordingly, for example, a card may be laminated and capacitively,optically, or inductively programmed. After programming, a processor onthe card may be signaled to burn-out its programming communicationchannel(s) such that no further programming may occur. A portion of thecard may not be laminated. Accordingly, a programmer may connect to thisnon-laminated portion of the card. The non-laminated portion of the cardmay be laminated after programming. Alternatively, for example, thenon-laminated portion of the card may be cut after programming (e.g.,and after the processor burns-out its programming ports so the processorcannot be further programmed).

Additional external communication devices may be provided on a card. Forexample, a USB port or Wi-Fi antenna may be provided on a card. Suchadditional external communication devices may, for example, allow a userto communicate with stationary computer, laptop, or other device. Suchcommunication devices may, for example, be utilized to load gift cards,or other information (e.g., transactional or account information) from alaptop to a card or other device. A card is provided that includes alight sensor such that information can be communicated to a card vialight (e.g., via a light transmitted from a TV or website).

Information that is transmitted to a magnetic stripe read-head can bechanged by a card. The information can be changed based on software thatis pre-loaded into a card. Similarly, the information can be determined,at least in part, by a user of the card. Accordingly, a user of a cardmay enter information into a card via user interfaces in order to changeat least part of the information transmitted through a magnetic-stripereader, via a magnetic stripe read-head, to a remote payment cardprocessing server.

A user may command a card to communicate particular information toobtain a variety of functionalities. For example, a user may be requiredto perform a variety of actions at a point-of-sale (POS) magnetic stripereader. Such actions may require that user to spend a particular amountof time. Accordingly, such a user may perform these activities beforereaching the POS device. The user's decisions may be communicatedthrough a POS reader output device such as a magnetic emulator/encoder,RFID antenna, and/or IC chip. Accordingly, in doing so, a user maydecrease the time the user spends at a POS device. Accordingly, the timeit takes to complete a transaction at a POS device can be significantlyreduced.

User interfaces, such as capacitive or mechanical buttons, may beincluded on a card. One or more buttons may be associated with one ormore tip amounts. Accordingly, for example, a user may press aparticular button and a corresponding percentage may be communicated toa POS reader. Accordingly, a remote server may complete a transactionfor the full-amount of the purchase (e.g., total cost, tax, and tip).The remote server may also pre-authorize the transaction for thisfull-amount such that a user can, for example, easily change the tip ifdesired. In determining the amount of the tip on the payment card, auser may increase the speed of a transaction as the user may not have toperform any math himself/herself. The user may instead be presented witha receipt that notes the desired tip as well as the total amount thatincludes the tip. Such a total operation may be performed in numerouslocations. For example, a POS reader may recognize the inclusion of tipinformation in an card output signal (e.g., an RFID, IC chip, and/ormagnetic stripe signal).

The POS reader may then perform the associated functions. Alternatively,for example, software located on a cash-register (e.g., a restaurant'scash register) may receive the information from the POS reader and maynotice that tip information was included in a card output signal.Accordingly, for example, a card may be branded with indiciacorresponding to a particular restaurant chain (e.g., TGIF, Red Robin,or Applebee's) and software may be added to the POS readers and/or cashregisters associated with that particular restaurant chain.

A remote server may receive payment information provided to a paymentcard reader by a payment. This information may include data fields(e.g., discretionary data fields). A remote server may recognize thatthe received payment information includes user-defined data such as, forexample, tip information. Accordingly, the remote server may performadditional processing steps based on this user-defined data. Forexample, the remote server may determine a tip amount based on receivedtip information and may authorize a payment card transaction for theamount. The remote server may communicate information back to a POSdevice indicative of the determined tip amount and/or total authorizedamount.

A card may include buttons indicative of particular tip amounts.Alternatively, a card may include numerical buttons and a buttonindicative of a tip. Accordingly, a user may determine any tip amountthat can be defined by the numerical buttons. Furthermore, the numericalbuttons may be utilized for executing functionality other thanfunctionality that corresponds to determining and providing tips.

A card is provided in which a user can enter his/her PersonalIdentification Number (PIN) into the card using one or more userinterfaces. This PIN may be communicated in an output signal from a card(e.g., a signal from an RFID antenna, IC Chip, or magneticemulator/encoder). Accordingly, for example, a user can enter his/herPIN into a card while waiting in a line for an ATM machine. The user cancommunicate this PIN from the card to the ATM machine using a readeroutput device on the card. The ATM machine may, for example, recognizethat a valid PIN was received from the card and may provide the userwith a welcome screen instead of a screen requesting the entry of a PIN.

Similarly, PIN-based purchases may be made where a user enters his/herPIN on a card instead of enters his/her PIN on a POS device.Furthermore, a user may utilize an on-card PIN entry instead of, forexample, an on-receipt signature. Accordingly, for example, a user maypurchase a meal at a restaurant. A waitress may present the user with acheck. A user may press a button associated to providing an on-card PIN.The user may also press a button associated to a particular tippercentage. Accordingly, for example, the waitress may take possessionof the card and may swipe the card through his/her POS device. The PINmay be utilized in lieu of a signature such that the total (includingtip) is immediately authorized). The waitress may then, for example,present a receipt to a user that confirms that a financial transactionwas completed, that an on-card PIN-based authentication was utilized,and the total amount including a line item for a tip amount.

A system is provided in which a user may utilize a PIN entry instead ofa signature to complete a signature-based transaction. The PIN may be,for example, passed-through from a card to a remote server using anoutput device (e.g., RFID antenna, IC chip, magnetic emulator/encoder).The server may recognize that a card desires utilizing an on-card PINinstead of a signature by looking at a particular character orcharacters of discretionary data. Furthermore, the server may recognizethat a card is one that can perform an on-card PIN functionality by, forexample, looking at a particular character or characters of transmittedinformation. For example, a server may determine that a card includes anon-card PIN functionality by, for example, looking at a number of digitsof a user's payment card number (e.g., first six digits of a credit cardnumber) and comparing this data to a corresponding list of partialpayment card numbers that include an on-card functionality. Accordingly,if a card is determined to have an on-card PIN functionality (or anypre-POS functionality or other functionality) then the server may lookat other characters of the received data (e.g., a particulardiscretionary data field) to determine the user's execution of thefunction. Data received by a server may, for example, include the PINnumber that a user entered into a card. Alternatively, data received bythe server may include information representative of the user enteringin the correct PIN onto the card. Accordingly, for example, a card mayreceive a PIN and determine that the PIN is correct. The card may thensend a particular character (e.g., a “1”) in a particular discretionarydata location to the remote server.

A card with pre-ATM functionality is provided in order to expedite theATM process when a user is provided with the ability to physicallyinteract with the ATM machine. Accordingly, a user may perform ATMactivities on his/her card so that when the user physically interactswith an ATM machine, the time of the interaction is reduced. A card isprovided with a button that allows a user to designate that the userdesires to withdrawal a particular amount of cash from an ATM.Accordingly, for example, the user may enter in his/her PIN onto a cardwhile waiting in a line to use a particular ATM. The user can alsoutilize the user interfaces of the card to denote that the user desiresa particular amount (e.g., $100) of cash from a particular account ofthe user's (e.g., checking). Accordingly, a card may communicate thisinformation to an ATM when a user swipes or inserts his/her card intothe ATM. Accordingly, a user may be prompted with a confirmation screento confirm the user's pre-ATM card actions. In doing so, a user maydecrease the amount of time he/she spends at an ATM machine.

A user may also be provided with a button that corresponds to auser-defined set of actions. For example, such a button may beindicative of taking a particular amount of money out of a checkingaccount while transferring a particular amount of money from a savingsaccount to that checking account, and not requiring a receipt from theATM. The user may, for example, determine the actions that areassociated with this button through an online website for a particularbank or card issuer. Accordingly, for example, when a user presses thebutton and the information is communicated to a reader (e.g., at anATM), the remote server may retrieve information indicative of theactions the users desired to perform when the button was pressed.Accordingly, for example, users may customize his/her card via awebsite.

Additionally, for example, a user may reprogram his/her card with newcode on a website. For example, a user may select a particular set ofactions for a particular button on a website and the website may directthe user to hold his/her card to a display screen of the user'scomputer. A portion of the display screen may then flash light to thecard. The card may include light sensors to determine characteristics ofthe flashing light. In doing so, information may be communicated from awebsite to a card.

A card is provided in which a user can perform pre-cashier checkoutactivities on his/her card while waiting in a checkout line. Forexample, a user may enter his/her PIN into a card for a PIN-based cardpayment as well as select, utilizing one or more user interfaces on thecard, a variety of checkout options such as a particular amount ofdesires cash-back. The user may also determine, for example, that theuser does or does not desire a receipt and that the user desires toutilize a particular type of payment (e.g., a credit payment from acredit account). The user's desired decisions may be communicated to acashier via a cash register connected to a payment card/device reader.

A card is provided that includes a user interface associated withdetermining whether a user desires a receipt for a particulartransaction. In doing so, for example, the information associated withthe user's decision on whether the user desires a receipt can becommunicated through a payment card reader. In doing so, a cashier may,for example, not need to ask a user whether the user desires areceipt—thus decreasing the time of interaction between the user and thecashier.

Coupons can be loaded into cards in a variety of ways. For example, auser may utilize computer interfaces on a card in order to load acoupon. For example, a user may be provided with a code and may enterthat code into his/her card. Coupons, or other information, may also becommunicated to a card via a television commercial or show. For example,a commercial for a product may include flashing indicia in a corner ofthe commercial. A user may hold his/her card up to the corner of thecommercial and the information (e.g., coupon) may be communicated to thecard. For example, a card may encrypt information based on an encryptionalgorithm. If this integrity of the algorithm is compromised, acommercial can be provided on national or regional television such thatinformation can be communicated to cards that would change theencryption algorithm the card uses to encrypt data the card provides topayment card readers.

A card is provided that includes buttons associated with items. Forexample, a card may include a button associated with a particular typeof drink (e.g., cola) and/or a particular types of snack (e.g., potatochips). A user that is waiting in line at a vending machine may, forexample, press the button on his/her card associated with a particularitem that the user desires to purchase. Accordingly, a user may swipehis/her card through a payment card magnetic stripe reader and thevending machine may receive payment information in addition to itemordering information. Accordingly, the vending machine may receive thedesired order information, execute the order (e.g., vend the user abottle of cola), and complete a payment transaction based on the amountof the ordered item and the payment card information provided by thepayment card to the vending machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of cards and associated circuitry constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card located adjacent to a read-head of areader constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a card and a payment process constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a payment card constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a payment card with multiple userinterfaces constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a payment card constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a card and a portion operable to receive awritten signature constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a payment process and a graphical userinterface constructed with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of graphical user interfaces constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a payment card constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a flow chart of a payment process and agraphical user interface associated with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a flow chart of a payment process and acommunications interface constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a card that includes user interfaces forordering items constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a personal electronic device constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that includes printed information 111 and 120,displays 112 and 113, and buttons 130-134. Card 100 may be, for example,a payment card such as a credit card, debit card, and/or gift card orany other type of card (e.g., security access or identification card).Payment information, such as a credit/debit card number may be providedas static information 111, dynamic information 112 and/or 113, or anycombination thereof.

For example, a particular number of digits of a credit card number(e.g., the last 3 digits) may be provided as dynamic information. Suchdynamic information may be changed periodically (e.g., once every hour).Information may be changed via, for example, encryption. Software may beprovided at, for example, the payment verification server that verifiesthe dynamic information for each period of time such that a payment canbe validated and processed for a particular user. A user may beidentified using, for example, static information that is used to form acredit card number or other static information (e.g., information 120).Additionally, identification information may be derived (e.g., embedded)in dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata credit card number may have, for example, a length of 15 or 16 digits.A credit card number may also have a length of up to 19 digits. Averification code may be used with some payment systems and such averification code may be provided statically on the card or may beprovided as dynamic information. Such a verification code may beprovided on a second display located on, for example, the front or rearsurface of card 100. Alternatively, a verification code may be displayedon the same display as other dynamic information (e.g., dynamicinformation 112). A display may be, for example, a flexible electronicink display. Such a flexible electronic ink display may, for example,utilize power to change displayed information, but may not utilize powerto display information after the information is changed.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152. Magnetic emulator 151 may be included and may beoperable to electrically couple with a read-head of a magnetic stripereader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-headhousing of a magnetic stripe reader may be provided with one, two, orthree active read-heads that are operable to each couple with a separatemagnetic track of information. A reader may also have more than oneread-head housing and each read-head housing may be provided with one,two, or three active read-heads that are operable to each couple with aseparate magnetic track of information. Such read-head housings may beprovided different surfaces of a magnetic stripe reader. For example,the read-head housings may be provided on opposite walls of a troughsized to accept payment cards. Accordingly, the devices on the oppositesides of the trough may be able to read a credit card regardless of thedirection that the credit card was swiped.

A magnetic emulator may be provided and may be positioned on card 150such that when card 150 is swiped through a credit card reader, themagnetic emulator passes underneath, or in the proximity of, a read-headfor a particular magnetic track. An emulator may be large enough tosimultaneously pass beneath, or in the proximity of, multipleread-heads. Information may be transmitted, for example, serially to oneor more read-heads. Information from different tracks of data may alsobe transmitted serially and the magnetic stripe reader may determine thedifferent data received by utilize the starting and/or ending sentinelsthat define the information for each track. A magnetic emulator may alsotransmit a string of leading and/or ending zeros such that a magneticreader may utilize such a string of zeros to provide self-clocking. Indoing so, for example, information may be transmitted serially at highspeeds to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, credit card informationmay be transmitted to a magnetic stripe reader at speeds up to, andgreater than, 30 kHz.

Different emulators may be provided, and positioned, on card 150 to eachcouple with a different read-head and each emulator may providedifferent track information to those different read-heads. Read-headdetectors may be utilized to detect when a read-head is over an emulatorsuch that an emulator is controlled by a processor to operate when aread-head detector detects the appropriate presence of a read-head. Indoing so, power may be saved. Additionally, the read-head detector maydetect how many read-heads are reading the card and, accordingly, onlycommunicate with the associated emulators. In doing so, additional powermay be conserved. Accordingly, an emulator may be utilized tocommunicate dynamic information to a magnetic stripe reader. Suchdynamic information may include, for example, dynamic payment cardinformation that changes based on time.

A static magnetic stripe may be provided to transmit data for one ormore tracks to a magnetic strip reader where dynamic information is notdesired. Card 150, for example, may include static magnetic track 153and static magnetic track 152. Information on static magnetic tracks 152and 153 may be encoded via a magnetic stripe encoder. Emulator 151 maybe included such that dynamic information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe reader, for example, without a magnetic stripe via anelectromagnetic signal transmitted directly from emulator 151 to aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Any combination of emulators andstatic magnetic tracks may be utilized for a card or device (e.g., twomagnetic emulators without any magnetic stripes).

One or more batteries, such as flexible lithium polymer batteries, maybe utilized to form card 100. Such batteries may be electrically coupledin a serial combination to provide a source of power to the variouscomponents of card 100. Alternatively, separate batteries may providepower to different components of card 100. For example, a battery mayprovide power to a processor and/or display of card 100, while anotherbattery provides a source of energy to one or more magnetic emulators ofcard 100. In doing so, for example, a processor may operate even afterthe battery that supplies power to an emulator completely discharges.Accordingly, the processor may provide information to another componentof card 100. For example, the processor may display information on adisplay to indicate to a user that the magnetic emulator is not longeroperational due to power exhaustion. Batteries may be, for example,rechargeable and contacts, or other devices, may be provided on card 100such that the battery may be recharged.

Buttons (e.g., buttons 130-134) may be provided on a card. Such buttonsmay allow a user to manually provide information to a card. For example,a user may be provided with a personal identification code (e.g., a PIN)and such a personal identification code may be required to be manuallyinputted into a card using the buttons in order for the card to operatein a particular manner. For example, the use of a magnetic emulator orthe use of a display may require a personal identification code.

By dynamically changing a portion of a user's credit card number, forexample, credit card fraud is minimized. By allowing the dynamicinformation to displayed visually to a user, and changed magnetically ona card, user behavior change is minimized (with respect to a credit cardwith completely static information). By requiring the use of a personalidentification code, the fraud associated with lost or stolen creditcards is minimized. Fraud associated with theft/loss is minimized asthird party users do not know the personal identification code needed tooperate particular aspects of a credit card with dynamic information.

FIG. 2 shows card 200. Card 200 may include, for example, staticmagnetic stripe track 203, static magnetic stripe track 201, andmagnetic emulator 202 sandwiched between read-head detectors 204 and205. A read-head detector may, for example, be provided as a circuitthat detects, for example, changes in capacitance or mechanical couplingto a conductive material. Processor 220 may be provided to, for example,receive information from read-head detectors 204 and 205 and controlemulator 202. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that processor220 may cause a current to flow through a coil of emulator 202 in adifferent direction to produce different electromagnetic fields. Thetransitions between the different electromagnetic fields may be sensedby a magnetic stripe reader as information. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may transmit data serially while a read-head is electricallycoupled with a magnetic reader.

RFID antenna 210 may be provided on card 200. Such an RFID antenna maybe operable to transmit information provided by processor 220. In doingso, for example, processor 220 may communicate with an RFID device usingRFID antenna 210 and may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader usingmagnetic emulator 202. Both RFID antenna 210 and magnetic emulator 202may be utilized to communicate payment card information (e.g., creditcard information) to a reader. Processor 240 may also be coupled todisplay 240 such that dynamic information can be displayed on display240. Button array 230 may also be coupled to processor 220 such that theoperation of card 200 may be controlled, at least in part, by manualinput received by button array 230. A smart-card chip may, for example,be included on card 200 in lieu of, or in addition to, RFID 210.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a static magnetic trackmay be a read-write track such that information may be written to amagnetic track from a magnetic stripe reader that includes a headoperable to magnetically encode data onto a magnetic track. Informationmay be written to a magnetic track as part of a payment process (e.g., acredit card or debit card transaction). Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a static magnetic track may include a magnetic materialthat includes ferromagnetic materials that provide for flux-reversalssuch that a magnetic stripe reader can read the flux-reversals from thestatic magnetic track. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may communicate information that remains thesame from payment card transaction to payment card transaction (e.g.,static information) as well as information that changes betweentransactions (e.g., dynamic information).

A card may include magnetic emulators without, for example, including astatic magnetic track. Read-head detectors may also be provided. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic reader may includethe ability to read two tracks of information (e.g., may include atleast two read-heads). All of the information needed to perform afinancial transaction (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction) may beincluded on two magnetic tracks. Alternatively, all of the informationneeded to perform a financial transaction (e.g., a gift cardtransaction) may be included on one magnetic track. Accordingly,particular cards, or other devices, may include the ability, forexample, to only transmit data associated with the tracks that areneeded to complete a particular financial transaction. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that for systems with three tracks ofinformation, the bottom two tracks may be utilized for credit cardinformation. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that asecure credit card transaction may be provided by only changing, forexample, one of two magnetic tracks utilized in a credit cardtransaction (for those transactions that utilize two tracks).Accordingly, one track may be a static magnetic track constructed from amagnetic material and the other track may be provided as a magneticemulator. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that numerousadditional fields of data may be provided on a magnetic track inaddition to a credit card number (or a security code). Dynamicinformation may be provided in such additional fields in order tocomplete a particular financial transaction. For example, suchadditional dynamic information may be numbers (or characters), encryptedwith time and synced to software, at a validating server, operable tovalidate the encrypted number for a particular period of time.

Card 250 includes emulator 251 that includes a coil operable tocommunicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Similarly, forexample, emulator 251 may receive information for a magnetic stripeencoder. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a coil may runacross the length of a card such that a read-head moves along the lengthof the coil and can receive information transmitted serially from thecoil. The coil may extend into multiple tracks such that multipleread-heads receive information from the coil. Track information can besent serially (e.g., track 1 information followed by track 2information). Multiple coils may be driven separately and placed indifferent zones such that a single read-head moves from coil-to-coil(e.g., zone-to-zone) and power is conserves as only coils in aparticular zone (or zones) may be utilized to communicate informationany particular time. Separate coils may be utilized for separate tracks.Materials may be placed in the interior of each coil to assist withmanipulating the electromagnetic field produced by the coils. Materialmay be placed above or below a coil to further manipulate theelectromagnetic field produced by the coil. Switching circuitry 252 mayinclude, for example, one or more transistors that may be utilized tocontrol the direction of current via emulator 251 (e.g., the polarity ofvoltage(s) across a drive resistor). For example, a coil may be utilizedto transmit a string of information to a particular read-head. Differentcoils may transmit information at different speeds (or at the samespeed). Different coils may transmit different amounts of information.For example, three coils may be provided. The coil closest to the bottomof the long-end of a card may transmit at least 79 characters. The coilnext closest to the bottom of the long-end of a card may transmit atleast 40 characters of information. The coil next closest to the bottomof the long-end of the card may transmit at least 107 characters. One ormore coils may have different character sets (e.g., a 6-bit characterset or a 7-bit character set). The last bit in a character may include,for example, a parity bit. Additional synching information may betransmitted before and after the data information to assist withsynching a magnetic stripe reader. For example, a string of zeros may becommunicated before and after communicating primary data. Characters maybe included in the data information for other purposes such as an LRCcharacter.

FIG. 3 shows card 300 that may include a number of components. Card 300may include one or more processors 320. A processor may include, forexample, cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM. Additional memory may beprovided on card 300. For example, additional non-volatile, volatile,cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM may be provided on card 300. Battery 325may be provided on card 300. Battery 325 may be, for example, a lithiumpolymer battery and may have a thickness less than a millimeter (e.g.,approximately 0.5 mm). RFID antenna 315 may be provided on card 300 andmay communicate data to an RFID reader. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that an RFID may be included that is a passive or activeRFID. IC chip 310 may be included on card 300 and may communicate datato an IC chip reader. Device 301 may be included to communicationinformation to a magnetic stripe reader. Device 301 may include anynumber of magnetic emulators, magnetic encoders that encode magneticstripes, and/or magnetic stripes. For example, device 301 may include amagnetic emulator for one track of magnetic data and a magnetic stripefor a second track of data. Alternatively, for example, device 301 mayinclude two emulators for separate tracks of data. An emulator may, forexample, communicate information to a read-head of a magnetic stripereader serially. One or more read-head detectors 302 may be provided todetect a read-head (or other attribute) of a magnetic stripe reader.Additional detectors may be included to detect, for example, when a cardis provided into an IC chip reader and/or an electromagnetic field froman RFID reader. Button array 330 may be provided, for example, toreceive input from a user. Button array 330 may include any number ofbuttons (e.g., 4, 5, 10, or more than 10). Button array 330 may include,for example, mechanical buttons, capacitive buttons, or any type of userinterface. One or more displays 340 may also be included. A display maybe, for example, an electronic ink display (e.g., electrochromicdisplay), LCD display, or any other type of display. Display 340 may beflexible.

Display 340 may be printed onto a layer during a printed fabricationprocess (e.g., PCB). Additionally, for example, battery 325 may beprinted onto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB).Similarly, a magnetic emulator may be printed onto a layer during aprinted fabrication process (e.g., PCB). Other components may be printedonto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB) such ascapacitive read-head detectors, and capacitive touch sensors.Accordingly, a display, battery, read-head detector, and button arraymay be printed on one or more layers that are bonded together andlaminated.

FIG. 3 shows card 350 that may include, for example, processor 353,switching circuitry 352, and emulator 351 having active region 354.Switching circuitry 352 may, for example, control the direction ofcurrent through emulator 351 in order to change the direction ofelectromagnetic fields generated by emulator 351 such that data may becommunicated serially to a magnetic stripe read-head. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulator 351 may be fabricated on a singlelayer and that region 354 may include coil segments dense enough togenerate an electromagnetic field that can be recognized by a read-headof a magnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 4 shows environment 400 that may include magnetic stripe reader410, read-head housing 440, card 420, and magnetic emulator 430.Read-head housing 440 may include any number of read-head's such as, forexample, one, two, or three read-heads. Each read-head may independentlyreceive magnetic fields from magnetic emulator 430 (or a magneticstripe, such as a magnetic stripe encoded on-card by card 420). Emulator430 may be positioned to be adjacent to any one or more read-heads ofread-head housing 440 or may be positioned to communicate information toany one or more read-heads of read-head housing 440. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulators with longer lengths may belocated within the proximity of one or more read-heads for a longerduration of time when a card is swiped. In doing so, for example, moreinformation may be transmitted from an emulator to a read-head when acard is being swiped.

FIG. 5 includes environment 500 that may include cards 520 and 530 aswell as magnetic stripe reader 510. Read-head housing 511 may beincluded on a wall of a trough of magnetic stripe reader 510. The troughmay be sized to accept cards (e.g., credit cards).

Card 520 may include emulator 521. Emulator 521 may provideelectromagnetic field 591 that may transmit through a portion of thehousing of magnetic stripe reader 510 (e.g., through a wall of a troughto get to read-head housing 511). Accordingly, card 520 may be locatedoutside of a reader—yet still be operable to communicate information toa magnetic stripe reader. A reader may be provided with an outer wall,for example, with a thickness of a quarter of an inch or more. Emulator521 can provide electromagnetic field 591 over a distance of, forexample, a quarter of an inch or more.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 520 may be coupledto a device via a permanent or removable cable. Such a device mayprovide power to card 520 as well as control information—such as controlinformation for emulator 530. An external source of power may beutilized, for example, to provide a larger amount of electrical energyto emulator 521 than from a source of power located within card 520.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a car having an internalbattery may still be able to receive a cable from a device having itsown source of electrical energy.

Card 530 may be provided with emulator 531 and may electrically couplewith a read-head of magnetic stripe reader 510. Any number of emulatorsmay be provided in card 530 in any number of orientations such that theappropriate electromagnetic field may couple with a read head ofread-head housing 511 regardless of the orientation of card 720 withrespect to read-head 511. More particularly, for example, additionalread-head housings may be provided in magnetic stripe reader 510 atdifferent locations about the reader to electrically couple with aemulators in a number of different configurations. A sticker and/orguide-structures may be provided on a magnetic stripe reader to, forexample, direct a user on how to position his/her card (or other device)for contactless transmission of data (e.g., credit card data) to aread-head housing without using the trough that includes that read-headhousing.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe readermay include a trough that includes two (or more) read-head housings 511located in approximately the same vertical position on a card-swipingtrough, but at different horizontal locations on opposite walls of thetrough. In doing so, for example, a magnetic stripe may be readregardless of the direction that a card having the magnetic stripe isfacing when the card is swiped. Magnetic emulator 521 may, for example,communicate magnetic fields outside both the front and read surfaces ofa card. Accordingly, a single emulator 521 may, for example, couple witha single read-head regardless of the direction the card was facing whenswiped. In doing so, for example, the costs of readers may be reduced asonly a single read-head may be need to receive information regardless ofthe direction a card is facing when swiped. Accordingly, magneticreaders do not need stickers and/or indicia to show a user the correctorientation to swipe a card through a magnetic stripe reader. An adaptermay be provided that coupled directly to a read-head that allows adevice not operable to fit in a trough to electrically couple with aread-head.

An emulator may be positioned about a surface of a card (or otherdevice), beneath a surface of a device, or centered within a card. Theorientation of a magnetic emulator in a card may provide differentmagnetic fields (e.g., different strength's of magnetic fields) outsidedifferent surfaces of a card. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may be printed via PCB printing. A card mayinclude multiple flexible PCB layers and may be laminated to form a cardusing, for example, a hot and/or cold lamination. Portions of anelectronic ink display may also be fabricated on a layer during a PCBprinting process.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number does not needto, for example, change with time. Information can change, for example,based on manual input (e.g., a button press or combination of buttonpresses). Additionally, a credit card number may be a static displaynumber and may be wholly or partially displayed by a display. Such astatic credit card number may result in the reduction of fraud if, forexample, a personal identification code is required to be entered on amanual input entry system to activate the display. Additionally, fraudassociated with card cloning may be minimized with the use of a magneticemulator activated by the correct entry on a manual input entry system.

Person skilled in the art will also appreciate that a card may be clonedby a thief, for example, when the thief puts a illegitimate credit cardreader before a legitimate credit card reader and disguising theillegitimate credit card reader. Thus, a read-head detector may detect aread-head housing and then, if a second read-head housing is detected onthe same side of the credit card, the reader may transmit information tothe second read-head that signifies that two read-head housings weredetected. In doing so, for example, a bank, or the police, may benotified of the possibility of the presence of a disguised cloningdevice. The information representative of multiple read-heads may beincluded with information that would allow a credit card number to bevalidated. As such, a server may keep track of the number of read-headhousings at each reader and, if more read-head housings are detectedthan expected, the server may contact an administrator (or the police).The server may also cause the credit card transaction to process or mayreject the credit card transaction. If the number of read-head housings(or read-heads) is the number expected by the server, the server canvalidate the payment transaction.

A payment system using dynamic numbers may, for example, be operablewith numbers that are stored outside of the period in which thosenumbers would otherwise be valid. A server may be included, for example,that accepts a dynamic credit card number, information representative ofa past credit card number, and the merchant that is requesting payment.The server may register that merchant for that saved number. The numbermay be decrypted (or otherwise validated) for that past period of time.Accordingly, the credit card transaction may be validated. Additionally,the merchant identification information may be linked to the storeddynamic credit card number for that past period of time. If the serverreceives a transaction from a different merchant with that same dynamiccredit card number for that same period of time, the server may rejectthe transaction. In doing so, a merchant may be protected from havingcredit card numbers stolen from its various storage devices. If a thiefsteals a number from a merchant's server that is associated with a pastperiod of time, that number cannot be used, for example, anywhere else.Furthermore, such a topology may, for example, allow merchants toprovide a one-click shopping, periodic billing, or any other type offeature that may utilize dynamic numbers that are stored and usedoutside of the period in which the dynamic numbers were generated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different emulators maybe controlled by different switching circuitry (e.g., differenttransistors).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple buttons may becoupled together to form a single-bit bus. If any button is pressed, thebus may change states and signal to the processor to utilize differentports to determine what button was pressed. In this manner, buttons maybe coupled to non-triggerable ports of a processor. Each button (or asubset of buttons) may be coupled to one or more triggerable ports of aprocessor. A port on a microprocessor may be utilized to drive anemulator in addition to, for example, receiving information from abutton. For example, once an appropriate personal identification code isreceived by a processor, the processor may utilize one or more portsthat receive information from one or more buttons to drive an emulator(e.g., for a period of time). Alternatively, for example, a magneticemulator may be coupled to its own triggerable or non-triggerableprocessor port. A card may also include a voltage regulator to, forexample, regulate power received from an internal or external source ofpower.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of device maybe utilized to provide dynamic magnetic information on a card to amagnetic stripe reader. As discussed above, a magnetic encoder may beprovided that can change information on a magnetic medium where thechanged information can be detected by a magnetic stripe reader.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the direction of currentthrough magnetic circuit 650 may be changed and controlled in a patternthat is representative of magnetic stripe data. Particularly, aprocessor may, for example, transmit information through a coil bychanging the direction of the electromagnetic field generated fromemulator circuit at particular times. A change in the frequency of fieldreversals may be representative of, for example, a particular bit ofinformation (e.g., “1” or “0”).

FIG. 6 shows card 650 that includes buttons 661-664, light sources691-694, displays 852-853, permanent information 651 and 670, buttons681-684, and hologram 699. A user may be provided with a payment number.Such a payment number may be comprised of permanent data, dynamic data,or a combination of permanent and dynamic data. Dynamic data may beprovided, for example, on display 652. Display 653 may be utilized toprovide a code, which may be dynamic. Such a code may be utilized inauthorize a transaction. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thatdisplays may display a code, payment number, or any type of data thatchanges based on time or based on use (e.g., utilizes one-time usedata). Similarly, data may be static and may not change. Accordingly,for example, a display may be utilized to display the same data whendesired such that the data may be hidden when the data is not desired tobe displayed. Buttons 651-664, 681-682, and/or 683-684 may be utilizedto signal a processor to display information on display 652, display643, or display 652 and display 653.

A Personal Identification Code (PAC) may be entered to utilize todisplay data, as well as instruct a processor to provide particulardata. For example, a particular PAC may provide one payment number(e.g., a credit card number) while a different PAC may provide adifferent payment number (e.g., a debit card number). A PAC may includea sequence of button presses (e.g., 5 particular button presses).Furthermore, a PAC may be utilized to unlock a card so that the card maybe utilized. For example, buttons 681, 682, 683, and 684 may not beutilized by a user until an appropriate PAC has been entered via buttons651-665. A number may be changed based on time (e.g., via display 652,display 653, or display 652 and display 653). Accordingly, a PAC may beentered such that the particular number associated with a particularbutton (e.g., a number associated with button 651) for a particular timeperiod (e.g., a particular day) may be displayed. One PAC may activatedisplay 652 while another PAC may activate display 653.

Light source 691 may be an LED or other source of light. Light source691 may display light each time a button associated to light source 691is pressed (e.g., buttons 661-662). Similarly, light source 692 maydisplay light each time a button associated with light source 692 ispressed (e.g., button 681 or 682). Light source 693 may display lighteach time a button associated with light source 693 is pressed (e.g.,light source 683 or 684). Light source 694 may be associated to acomponent and may display light each time that component is activated(e.g., display 653 or 652 is activated). Light sources may emit lighthaving different colors. For example, a processor may determine that aPAC provided to the processor via buttons 661-665 matches a valid PACfor performing an operation. Each button press may cause light source691 to emit light of a first color (e.g., YELLOW). The last button pressto complete the PAC, however, may cause light source 691 to emit adifferent color if the PAC is VALID (e.g., emit GREEN) yet emit anothercolor if the PAC is INVALID (e.g., emit RED). Particular areas of alaminated card may be transparent such that light from a light-sourceilluminates the transparent area.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other default data maybe provided to other components of a card upon entry of a PAC. Forexample, particular default data (e.g., payment card number anddiscretionary data) may be communicated to a magnetic emulator (ormagnetic encoder) such that the information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe read-head. Similarly, default data (e.g., payment cardnumber and discretionary data) may be communicated to an RFID antenna,an IC chip, or an RFID antenna and an IC chip. Such default data may bedifferent for each component (e.g., magnetic encoder/emulator, RFIDantenna, IC Chip) and may be in different formats (e.g., one track ofpayment data for one magnetic emulator and another track of payment datafor another magnetic emulator). A code (e.g., the code associated withdisplay 653) may be communicated via a magnetic emulator (or RFIDantenna or IC chip). Alternatively, for example, an additional code,which may be dynamic or permanent, may be communicated via a magneticemulator (or RFID antenna or IC chip). This additional code may beassociated with the code associated with display 653 (e.g., associatedmathematically).

Button 681 may be included on card 650. Button 681 may cause, forexample, display 652, display 653, or display 652 and 653 to displaydata associated to button 681. Similarly, data associated to button 681may be communicated through components of card 650 (e.g., a magneticemulator, magnetic encoder, RFID antenna, and IC chip).

Button 681 may, for example, be associated with a particular amount of atip (e.g., a 10% tip). Accordingly, for example, a user may interactwith button 681 to denote that the user desires to add a tip to apurchase. For example, a user in a restaurant may hand his/her paymentcard to a waitress and activate button 681 (e.g., after entering in anappropriate PIC into card 650 utilizing buttons 661-665). Accordingly,the waitress may swipe card 650 through a magnetic stripe swipe reader.A read-head detection circuit on card 650 may recognize that card 650 isbeing swiped. Accordingly, for example, card 650 may communicateinformation through a magnetic emulator. This information may includepayment information (e.g., a payment card number and associateddiscretionary data). Included in the communicated data may be, forexample, data representative of the desired tip amount. Such data may,for example, be a flag (e.g., a particular character in a particularlocation of communicated data). A system, such as a cash register orremote server, may recognize the flag and may authorize a paymenttransaction associated with the total amount of a purchase (e.g., theamount after the desired tip has been added).

Button 682 may be associated to, for example, a pre-ATM activity. Such apre-ATM activity may be, for example, a pre-PIN activity. For example, auser may activate button 682 and utilize buttons 661-665 to enter in theuser's PIN. The user may then, for example, place card 650 in theproximity of a card reader such that payment information and a user'sPIN may be communicated through a magnetic emulator (or communicatedthrough an RFID antenna and/or IC chip). Accordingly, a user may enterin his/her PIN into a payment card such that a user does not have toenter his/her PIN into an ATM. In doing so, for example, a user may moresecurely enter in his/her PIN (e.g., by hiding a card) as well asaccelerate an ATM activity (e.g., by entering a PIN while waiting inline for an ATM). A user may enter his/her PIN into card 650 utilizingbuttons 661-665 and then, for example, press button 682 to cause aprocessor to place the entered PIN information into data communicatedfrom card 650. Accordingly, for example, the sequence of buttons 661-665that are pressed may be stored in a memory of card 650 and utilized by aprocessor of card 650.

Button 683 may be associated to display 654. Alternatively, for example,button 683 may be associated with written and/or embossed information(not shown). For example, button 683 may be associated to display 654.Display 654 may display data associated with a particular card function.For example, display 654 may display a fast-cash function (e.g., $100fast cash). A user may utilize interfaces on card 650 (e.g., buttons651-662) to set or change the information displayed on display 683. Auser may enter in a card configuration on a computer and receiveinformation into the card from the computer, in a variety of ways, inorder to configure the card (e.g., to display a particular function ondisplay 654). For example, a user may swipe card 650 and receiveinformation through a coil from a magnetic encoding head that generatesan electromagnetic field. Alternatively, for example, a processor mayreceive configuration information via an RFID antenna and/or an IC chip.

Button 683 may be associated with a fast-cash function. A user mayinteract with button 683 to provide an instruction to a processor that afast-cash functionality is desired. A user may, for example, enterhis/her PIN into a card. After the user's PIN is verified by a processoron card 650, a user may, for example, press button 683 such that a flagis communicated through transmitted payment information representativeof a fast-cash function. Accordingly, for example, an ATM (or otherdevice) may receive payment information that may include a fast-cashflag. The machine may also receive PIN information from a card. Themachine may utilize a payment card number in the payment informationwith the PIN number to verify the identity of the user. The machine mayrecognize the received flag and utilize the flag as control data todispense cash to the user. Accordingly, for example, a user may performATM activities on a card while waiting in line for an ATM in order tominimize the amount of time a user is required to interact with thatATM.

Button 684 may be associated with display 684 and a pre-authorizationfunctionality. For example, a pre-authorization functionality may beutilized to pre-authorize a particular amount or to complete asignature-based transaction without a signature. For example, a tipamount may be added to a total amount and may be pre-authorized.Accordingly, a user may receive a receipt that requires his/hersignature with the pre-authorized total amount (that includes the tip).Additionally, for example, a PIN may be entered utilizing buttons661-665 and button 684 may be utilized to communicate the PIN as apre-authorization. Accordingly, a remote server may receive paymentinformation that may include at least a PIN, a payment number,discretionary data, and a flag associated that the PIN is desired to beutilized in lieu of a signature as a form of authorization for thetransaction.

Flow chart 600 may be utilized in conjunction with a payment card, suchas payment card 650. Step 610 may be included in flow chart 600.Particularly, for example, step 610 may be initiated when information iscommunicated from a payment card, through a payment card reader, througha payment card routing server, to a payment card authorization server.Step 611 may be included, in which a PIN is requested to be entered at areader. Step 612 may be included, in which a signature is requested tobe entered in a reader. Step 613 may be included, in which a PIN, forexample, is communicated to a remote server via a card, thus notrequiring either a PIN or a signature to be entered on a payment cardreader. A payment transaction may be completed in step 614

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a pre-authorizationactivity may include the pressing of a single button after anappropriate PIN has been entered into a card. Accordingly, the card mayauthorize a user and may communicate an appropriate flag when paymentdata is communicated from a card. Accordingly, a remote server mayreceive a flag. The remote server may authorize a payment transactionbased on the received data that includes the flag, indicative of anappropriate PIN entered into a card and the activation of a buttonassociated with a pre-authorization activity.

FIG. 7 shows card 700. User interface 771 may be included on card 700and may be associated to a particular tip percentage (e.g., 5%). Userinterface 772 may be included on card 700 and may be associated to adifferent tip percentage (e.g., 10%). User interface 773 may be includedon card 700 and may be associated to another tip percentage (e.g., 15%).User interface 774 may be included on card 700 and may be associated toyet another tip percentage (e.g., 20%). User interface 775 may beincluded on card 700 and may be associated to the desire to enter a PINinto card 700. User interface 776 may be included on card 700 and may beassociated to an authorization activity. Displays 781-784 may beutilized to display information. For example, display 781 may displaypayment card information (e.g., after an appropriate PIN is entered intocard 700). Display 782-784 may be utilized to display selectedcombinations of activities. For example, if a user is in a restaurant, auser may enter a PIN, enter that the PIN should be utilized for paymentauthorization, and that a 10% tip is authorized. Persons skilled in theart will appreciate that a user may utilize buttons to enter in a PIN atany time (e.g., without pressing a button indicating a PIN is about tobe entered) and a correct entry of a PIN may result in a display (e.g.,display 782) displaying indicia associated with the correct entry of aPIN.

FIG. 8 shows card 800 that may include, for example, user interfaces811-820. User interfaces 811-820 may be a button such as a mechanicalbutton or a capacitive button.

User interface 811 may be pressed by a user to instruct a processor oncard 800 that a user desires to enter a PIN into card 800 utilizing userinterfaces located on card 800. Accordingly, a user may interface withuser interface 811. The user may then enter his/her PIN into userinterfaces of card 800. The entered PIN may then be, for example, storedand verified by a processor of card 800. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate, however, that a PIN entered by a user does not need to beverified by card 800. An entered PIN may, for example, be stored and theentered PIN may be communicated to a remote device by card 800.Accordingly, a PIN may be verified by remote devices A PIN may beverified by card 800 in addition to being forwarded to a remote devicefor verification.

Card 800 may include user interface 812. A user may interface with userinterface 812 (e.g., press a mechanical button) and cause a processor ofcard 800 to implement a functionality associated with user interface812. Such a functionality may include, for example, instructions tocommunicate information associated with the desired functionality whencard 800 communicates information to external devices (e.g., a paymentcard magnetic stripe reader, IC chip reader, or RFID reader). Userinterface 812 may, for example, cause information to be sent indicativeof a user's desire to complete a signature-based transaction without asignature. Accordingly, for example, card 800 may communicateinformation that includes a payment card number, the PIN entered intocard 800 by a user, and a data indicative of the user's desire toutilize the entered PIN to complete a transaction instead of utilizing asignature.

User interface 813 may be associated to a particular type of card. Forexample, user interface 813 may be associated to a particular type of apayment card (e.g., credit payment, debit payment, gift payment).Accordingly, for example, a user may interact with user interface 813 toinstruct a processor that the user desires to utilize a particular typeof payment for a purchase. Multiple interfaces may be included on card800 and each interface may be associated to a different type of payment.For example, user interface 814 may be included on card 800 and may beassociated with a credit payment. A processor may receive a controlsignal from user interface 813. The processor may then retrieve paymentinformation associated with stored payment information for userinterface 813. Accordingly, for example, the processor may retrievedebit card information (e.g., a debit card account number and associateddiscretionary data). The processor may then communicate this retrievedinformation from card 800. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat the card may communicate payment information in different formsdepending on the type of reader the card interfaces with. For example,card 800 may detect that card 800 is placed in a magnetic stripe swipereader and may communicate the payment information desired by the userin the form of track 1 and track 2 magnetic stripe data. Card 800 mayalternatively, for example, detect that card 800 is placed in anelectromagnetic field and may communicate the appropriate paymentinformation as an RFID signal from an RFID antenna located on card 800.

User interfaces 816-818 may be associated to particular dollar amounts.User interfaces 819 and 820 may be associated to functions that arebased on particular dollar amounts. Accordingly, for example, a user mayselect a user interface 816-818 as well as user interface 819 or 820 inorder to provide a combinational instruction to a processor. Forexample, a user may utilize user interface 819 and 818 to instruct aprocessor that a fast-cash functionality is desired in the amount of$100. As per another example, a user may utilize user interface 820 and818 to instruct a processor that a cash-back functionality is desired inthe amount of $100. Accordingly, a user may utilize user interfaces toprovide combinational logic in order to, for example, reduce the numberof user interfaces on a card. In reducing the number of user interfaceson a card, for example, the cost of a card may be decreased. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a cash-back and a fast-cashfunctionality may be provided with a single button. A single flag may beplaced in data outputted in a card indicative of the desire to utilize afast-cash and cash-back functionality. A remote device, such as a cashregister), may recognize the flag and may perform the desired operationif, for example, the machine is only capable of providing one of the twooptions (e.g., fast-cash or cash-back). A button may be pressed multipletimes to toggle between different options. For example, a button may bepressed once to toggle to a fast-cash functionality while the samebutton may be pressed again to toggle to a cash-back functionality.

The results of user selections may be displayed, for example, on display802. Accordingly, for example, a user may visually verify that card 800has correctly received the user's desired selections. Permanentinformation 801 may be provided. Permanent information 801 may include,for example, a payment card number, a user's name, a verification code,an expiration date, instructions for destroying a card, and instructionsfor using a card. Person skilled in the art will appreciate thatpermanent information 801 may include a default payment card number(e.g., a first credit card number). The use of user interface 814 may,for example, cause a secondary credit card number to be displayed ondisplay 802. A card that is used with a reader without receiving anyinformation from a user via user interfaces may, for example,communicate default information (e.g., default payment information orinformation indicative that a user has not entered any information intoa card utilizing user interfaces located on the card).

FIG. 9 shows card 900. Card 900 may include, for example, userinterfaces 911-910 and 922-925. Card 900 may also include, for example,display 650. User interfaces 910 to 919 may each be associated to, forexample, a digit. Accordingly, for example, user interfaces 910-919 mayform a ten digit numeric keypad. This keypad may be utilized by a userto communicate numerical information to a processor. Multiple functionsmay, for example, utilize numerical information. For example, userinterface 922 may be associated with a PIN-entry function. Accordingly,a user may use interface 922 and then the user may enter a PIN into card900 by utilizing interfaces 911-919. User interface 921 may beassociated with a fast-cash functionality. Accordingly, a user mayselect fast-cash by utilizing interface 921 and then may enter in thedesired amount of cash the user desires to withdrawal utilizinginterfaces 910-919. A confirmation step may be utilized. For example, auser may interface with button 921 before and after selecting awithdrawal amount. Display 650 may, for example, display an updatedselection status after, for example, a function button is pressed asecond time (e.g., after numerical information is entered).Alternatively, for example, a user selection may be presented viadisplay 650 after the numerical information was entered by a user suchthat a user can press a function button a second time, after viewing thedisplayed selection, to confirm the selection. A user may reset theselection by, for example, entering a different numerical amountutilizing user interfaces 910-919. In doing so, for example, a user mayeasily correct a situation where the user entered the wrong numericalinformation into card 900.

User interface 923 may be associated with, for example, a cash-backfunctionality. Accordingly, a user waiting in line to purchase an itemmay select cash-back utilizing interface 923 and may enter in an amountof desired cash-back. This request may be communicated from the card toa cash register such that the cashier is notified to provide the desiredamount of cash-back to the user. Accordingly, a transaction may beauthorized for the amount of the purchase as well as the amount of thecash withdrawal. User interface 924 may be associated to a tip and userinterfaces 911-919 may be utilized to enter in the desired tip. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a card, or a remote device, mayutilize numerical information as a percentage (e.g., 10%) or as a number(e.g., $10). A user interface may be provided for a decimal place suchthat cents information may be entered into a card by a user. Userinterface 925 may be utilized by a user to toggle between a checkingaccount and a saving account. User interface 926 may be utilized tonotify the card that a user desires a receipt. Accordingly, informationmay be communicated by the card to a point-of-sale device to indicatethat the user desires a receipt. In doing so, for example, the amount ofuser-to-cashier verbal interaction may be minimized. A user may utilizeuser interface 926 to toggle between a state of desiring a receipt to astate of not desiring a receipt. Information indicative of a user'sselection may be displayed, for example, on display 950. For example,“$20(C)” may denote that a user selected to withdrawal $20 from his/herchecking account.

FIG. 10 shows card 1000. Card 1000 may include, for example, an reverseside that includes a material operable to receive a user's signature(e.g., a pen-based signature). The reverse side may also include code1010. Code 1010 may be displayed on a display located on a reverseand/or obverse side. Code 1010 may be electronically communicated by acard (e.g., via an IC chip, a magnetic emulator/encoder, and/or an RFIDantenna). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any interface,display, or other component of a card may be located on the reverse orobverse side of the card. Display 1030 may include a code that isdisplayed upon interaction with interface 1020. Display 1030 may not,for example, display information until, for example, a correct PIN hasbeen entered into interfaces located on the obverse side of the card andinterface 1020 has been utilized by a user. The code displayed ondisplay 1030 may be communicated through a magnetic emulator/encoder inone or more tracks of magnetic stripe data.

FIG. 11 shows flow chart 1100 and graphical user interface 1150. Flowchart 1100 may include, for example, step 1110, in which a userapproaches a point-of-sale device with a payment card. Step 1111 may beprovided that includes a user entering his/her PIN on the point-of-saledevice. Accordingly, a user may perform associated tasks at thepoint-of-sale device in step 1112. The transaction may be completed atstep 1115. Alternatively, for example, the user may enter his/her PINand/or other point-of-sale decisions on his/her card in step 1113. Auser may confirm the selections the user entered into his/her card atthe point-of-sale in step 1114 after the card communicates the user'sdecisions to the point-of-sale device. The transaction may be completedin step 1115.

Graphical user interface 1150 may be provided on a display of apoint-of-sale device. A point-of-sale device may include, for example, acash-register, a payment card reader, and an ATM. Graphical userinterface may include interfaces 1151 and 1152 for receiving manualinput. Buttons may be provided on a point-of-sale device to receive userinput. A card may display a graphical user interface and may include,for example, a capacitive touch screen such that a user may interactwith interface areas of the touch screen in order to enter manual inputinto the touch screen. An ATM may include a graphical user interface to,for example, display a user's decisions that were entered into a cardand communicated to the ATM via an output communications component(e.g., a magnetic emulator, RFID antenna, or IC chip).

FIG. 12 shows graphical user interface 1201 that may include manualinput interface 1211 and 1212 and graphical user interface 1251 that mayinclude manual input interface 1261 and 1262. Graphical user interface1201 may be provided on a display of a point-of-sale devices such thatan operator of the point-of-sale device may be provided with thedecisions of a the user of a card. The operator may acknowledge that theoperator understands the user's selection by utilizing manual inputinterfaces 1211 and 1212. A point-of-sale device, such as acash-register may perform a number of functions after an operatoracknowledges understanding of a user's decisions. For example, acash-register may cause a cash drawer to open such that an operator mayremove cash from the drawer and hand the cash to a user (e.g., tocomplete a cash-back transaction).

FIG. 13 shows card 1300 that may include user interfaces 1301-1309 anddisplay 1310. A user may utilize interface 1302 to utilize a savingsaccount. A user may utilize interface 1305 to utilize a fast-cashwithdrawal function. A user may utilize interface 1302 to obtain abalance receipt. A user may utilize interface 1306 to conduct a transferoperation. A user may utilize interface 1308 to utilize a checkingaccount. A user may utilize interface 1303 to note that a receipt isdesired. A user may utilize interface 1307 to toggle between a creditand debit account. A user may utilize interface 1309 to instruct an ATM,for example, to provide the first graphical user interface as astock-trading interface. User may utilize interface 1304 to initiate anupload feature. Display 1310 may note a user's selections (e.g., $20withdrawal from a checking account followed by an upload operation).

A card may receive information in a variety of ways. For example, a cardmay receive information from an RFID antenna, an IC chip, or a magneticemulator. For example, a magnetic stripe encoder on a point-of-saledevice may communicate information to a coil located on a card. Thus,information may be communicated from a point-of-sale device to a card. Auser may utilize interface 1304 to instruct a card to prepare for anupload function (e.g., a card operating a contact or coil in a receivemode instead of a transmit mode). Balance information, latesttransaction information, or any other type of information may becommunicated to a card and displayed on display 1310. Information may beuploaded to a card via audio signals received by an on-card microphoneor light signals received by an on-card light sensor. A user may utilizea combination of buttons to provide a combinational decision. Forexample, a user may utilize interface 1301, then interface 1306, thennumerical interfaces to enter in the number “100,” then interface 1308to instruct the card that the user desires an ATM machine to transfer$100 from the user's savings account to the user's checking account.

FIG. 14 shows flow chart 1400 and graphical user interface 1451. Flowchart 1400 may include step 1401, in which a user approaches apoint-of-sale with a card. The user enters his/her decisions into a cardin step 1402. Step 1403 occurs, in which the point-of-sale performsactions based on the actions and PIN received from the user's card. Step1404 may then occur, in which information is uploaded from thepoint-of-sale to the card. An additional transaction may occur in step1405. Graphical user interface 1451 may be included with manual inputinterfaces 1461, 1462, and 1463. Interface 1463 may take a user to anoptions menu. A display screen may communicate information from apoint-of-sale device (e.g., an ATM) to a card.

A light detector may be provided on a card that may receive light pulsesindicative of data. Accordingly, for example, a user may hold a card upto a display—such as the screen of a laptop, stationary computer, ormobile phone—and information may be communicated from the display to thecard via the light detector. Similarly, a light source may be utilizedto communicate information from one device to another. For example, alight source (e.g., LED) may be utilized to communicate information fromone card to another. Similarly, a magnetic stripe reader may include alight source. A card may be positioned over the light source such that alight detector of the card is aligned with the light source to receivelight. Accordingly, the light of a magnetic stripe reader (or other typeof reader) may be utilized to communicate information back to a card. Auser may utilize interfaces on the card (e.g., buttons) to initiate atransfer of data from one card to another card or from a device to acard. A variety of types of data may be communicated. For example, moneymay be communicated from one debit card to another debit card such thatpayments may occur between the cards. Accordingly, for example, the nexttime a card is utilized via a reader (e.g., a magnetic stripe reader)information of the transfer may be communicated to a server forprocessing. Light may be utilized to transfer data from a card to acomputer using, for example, a camera (e.g., webcam) on the computer.

FIG. 15 shows flow chart 1500 and graphical user interface 1510. Flowchart 1500 may include step 1501, in which a user approaches acard-reader having a display with a card. The user may enter his/her PINinto the card and provide instructions to the card in step 1502.Particularly, for example, a user can instruct the card to operate in anupload mode. Step 1503 may initiate in which information is received bythe processor of a card from a point-of-sale device. The card mayconfigure itself depending on the received information in step 1504.Step 1505 may occur in which the card is used by a user after the cardis configured.

Display screen 1510 may be provided. For example, display screen 1510may be provided to communicate information to a card. For example, area1511 may communicate information to a light sensor located on a card byproviding light pulses that may be understood as information by aprocessor located on a card. Area 1511 may be provided on any type ofdisplay. For example, area 1511 may be provided during a commercial orduring a television show. Alternatively, for example, area 1511 may beprovided on a webpage. Information that may be communicated through area1511 may include, for example, coupons that may be utilized at variouspoint-of-sale devices. For example, a cola commercial may communicate acoupon for a free bottle of cola.

FIG. 16 shows card 1600 that may include, for example, button 1610,display 1611, button 1620, and display 1621. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a card may receive coupon information (e.g., from alight-emitting area on a commercial or webpage). The coupon informationmay include information to display on a display of a card as well asinformation to communicate to a reader when the coupon is desired to beused (e.g., via activation of button 1610). For example, a coupon codemay be communicate via a magnetic emulator. Received coupons may expireafter a period of time and may be erased from a card's memory. The timemay be set by the coupon issuer and communicated to a card. A card maykeep a list of displays that do not have a coupon associated with themand may, for example, display a newly received coupon in the nextavailable display. Displays may be kept OFF until, for example, a userenters a PIN into a card and the card verifies the PIN. Multiple couponsmay be associated with a display and a user may toggle through thecoupons by pressing a button associated with the display. A user mayselect a coupon by, for example, holding a button down for a period oftime (e.g., more than 2 seconds).

FIG. 17 shows card 1700 that may include buttons 1721 and 1722. A cardmay include buttons associated with, for example, particular items. Auser may select such items and utilize the card at a vending machine.The vending machine may receive both payment information and orderinginformation. Accordingly, a user waiting in line to utilize a vendingmachine may select a button associated with cola and may simply swipehis/her card when the user approaches the vending machine. The vendingmachine may autonomously detect that the user desires a cola and maydispense a cola and charge the amount of the cola to the user's card.

FIG. 17 shows card 1750. Card 1750 may include areas 1751-1754. Areas1751-1754 may include multiple user interfaces (e.g., mechanical orcapacitive buttons). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thelocation of areas 1751-1754 may result in a different way that a userinteracts with card 1750. For example, area 1753 may be located in theproximity of the center of the bottom of card 1750 such that left andright handed users may decide to utilize area 1753 in a similar manner.Area 1751 may be located within the proximity of the center of the leftside of a side of card 750 (e.g., the front side of card 750).Accordingly, a right-handed user may find it easier to rotate the cardsuch that user views the left-side of card 750 as the top of card 750.Accordingly, indicia located on an area may be provided in anorientation that can easily be read if the card was rotated and held ina different orientation than that shown in FIG. 7 (e.g., the card isrotated such that the indicia of area 1754 is oriented properly withrespect to a user of card 1750). Interfaces within an area may bealigned in a line formation or in a different formation (e.g., adirectional pad formation).

A display may also be utilized as an interface. For example, a displaymay include a contact and an electronic ink. The electronic ink maychange colors in response to, for example, a particular electricalsignal being supplied to the contact. A capacitive sensor may be coupledto such a contact, however, such that a user interaction with thecontact may be sensed by the capacitive sensor. Accordingly, a card mayinclude a display that can also receive user input. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may include multiple contacts.For example, a display may include multiple 7-segment (e.g., to displaydigits) or 11-segment, 14-segment, or 16-segment (e.g., to displayalphanumerics) regions where each segment may be coupled to a capacitivesensor.

A biometric sensor may be placed on a card or other device. Such abiometric sensor may be, for example, a fingerprint reader. Accordingly,one or more fingerprints may be stored in the memory of a card andcompared to scanned fingerprints. Different fingerprints may activatethe card differently (e.g., utilize a different user's payment cardinfo).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user's payment cardnumber (e.g., credit card or debit card number) does not have to change.A display may hide this payment card number until an appropriateunlocking code is entered into buttons of the card. Similarly, amagnetic emulator may not be provided current until the proper unlockingcode is entered—thus keeping magnetic information private and notallowing undesirable readers to read a card. A security code may bedisplayed on the same or a different display. A button may be providedrepresentative of an online purchase (or a user may utilize buttons toinstruct the processor that an online purchase is desirable). For suchan online purchase, the credit card number and the security code may bedisplayed—but the magnetic emulator may not be activated. In doing so,the level of security of the card is increased. Furthermore, forexample, a button may be provided representative of in-store purchases(or a user may utilize buttons to instruct the processor that anin-store purchase is desirable). Accordingly, a processor may besignaled that an in-store purchase is desired. A different operation maybe associated with different types of purchases (e.g., online orin-store). Accordingly, for example, magnetic emulators may be activatedfor an in-store environment—but not the displays. Accordingly, forexample, a restaurant cashier may not be able to read the credit cardnumber from the card, but may still be able to swipe the card. If areader is down or a cashier requires reading particular information(e.g., a security code or credit card number information) then controlsmay be utilized to communicate this information. A record of the typesof transactions may be stored and may be communicated in discretionaryfields of data within a transmitted data track. Such record informationmay be utilized, for example, to further increase security and/orintroduce a variety of additional functionality.

Different types of cards may be provided on a card. For example, asecurity ID number and a credit card number may both be provided on thesame card. A button may be utilized to allow a user to provideinstruction to a processor such that the processor can display (e.g.,visually and/or magnetically) the desired information. For example, auser may determine to use one of a variety of payment accounts (e.g.,credit and/or debit) for a purchase. An entire payment number (e.g.,credit or debit) may be changed and/or hidden visually and/ormagnetically. A portion of a payment card number (e.g., credit or debit)may be changed and/or hidden visually and/or magnetically.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a display on the cardmay display a credit card number that does not change with time (ortransaction or button press). Additionally, for example, a magneticemulator (or multiple magnetic emulators) may magnetically communicatefinancial data that does not change with time. Such a card may reduce,for example, the effects of physical card theft and card cloning.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any numbers of a creditcard number may remain static and/or change either with time or basedoff a transaction (e.g., by sensing a read-head “swipe”). Additionally,any static and/or dynamic numbers may be displayed via a display orprinted on a card. For example, a middle 6 digits of a credit/debit cardnumber may be static and may be displayed on a display. Such a middle 6digits may be displayed, for example, upon the entry of a correct PIC.Similarly, a magnetic emulator may not communicate information until acorrect PIC has been entered by a user. Doing so may, for example,reduce fraud associated with card cloning. Additionally, a receipt maybe provided that includes masked credit card numbers except for the lastfew digits of credit card numbers. Accordingly, displaying a staticmiddle 6 digits of credit card numbers may allow for such a receipt tobe provided while still reducing credit card fraud from hiding numbersthat are not displayed on such a receipt. Any amount of numbers and/orcharacters may be displayed through a display. For example, nineteendigits may be displayed as part of a credit/debit numbers and thesenumbers may also be communicated through one or more magnetic emulationcircuits. The entry of particular PICs may provide different results.For example, a first PIC may only display a string of alphanumericcharacters. A second PIC may only activate a magnetic emulation circuitto transmit information including that string of alphanumeric characters(or a different string). A third PIC may activate a magnetic emulationcircuit and a display. A display and/or magnetic emulation circuit maybe turned OFF, for example, upon entry of an incorrect PIC and/or aftera period of time has passed since the entry of the PIC and/or after thedetection of a particular number of swipes by a read-head detector(e.g., one or two).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a credit/debit cardnumber (or any other information) may remain static until an eventoccurs and then may become dynamic (e.g., change based on swipes and/ortime). For example, a particular PIC may change from a static to adynamic topology and/or a topology may be changed from static to dynamicafter a pre-determined period of time. Additionally a card and/or devicemay include a wireless receiver and a topology may be changed from astatic to a dynamic topology upon, for example, receiving an appropriatesignal from the wireless receiver. Accordingly, a validation process maychange at a validation server depending upon whether a card is utilizinga static and/or dynamic topology at any given time. Additionally, astatic credit/debit card number may be printed on the face of a card andinformation (e.g., a security code) may be displayed via a display andremain static over time (or with use) or be provided dynamically.

A card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may accept apre-determined number of consecutive incorrect PICs before locking thecard for a period of time or until an appropriate secondary PIC isentered. Accordingly, a user may enter in an incorrect PIC a number oftimes and then, after a card becomes locked, call a support center for asecondary one-time use PIC. A card may cycle through unlocking PICsbased, for example, on time or the number of previous unlock attempts.

FIG. 18 shows card 1800 that may include, for example, one or more ICchips 1830 (e.g., EMV chips), RFID antennas 1820, processors 1840,displays 1850, dynamic magnetic communications devices 1810 (e.g.,magnetic encoders and/or magnetic emulators), batteries 1860, andbuttons 1851 and 1852. Additional circuitry 1898 may be provided whichmay be, for example, one or more oscillators or emulator drivingcircuits. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that button 1851may, for example, be utilized by a user to select one encryptionalgorithm for a number displayed on display 1850 while button 1852 maybe utilized by a user to select a different encryption algorithm.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the components of card1800 may be provided on either surface of a card (e.g., a front or rearsurface of the card) or inside of a card. A logo (e.g., of a cardissuer) and logo may be provided on either surface of a card.

A button, such as button 1051, may be utilized, for example, to displaya number. Such a number may be, for example, encrypted from a securenumber based on time or use. For example, one-time use numbers (e.g., apayment number or code) may be retrieved from a list of numbers onmemory each time button 1851 is pressed and displayed on display 1850. Aprocessor may only go through each number once on a list. A registrationprocess may be provided in which a user may be requested to enter in asequence of numbers such that a remote server may validate the card andlearn where in a sequence of a list a card currently resides. Numbersmay be repeated on a list or may only occur once on a list. All of thenumbers available by the length of the number may be utilized by thelist or only a portion of the numbers available by the length of thenumber may be provided by the list. A secret number may be encrypted ona card and a verification server may also have knowledge of this secretnumber. Accordingly, the remote server may perform the same encryptionfunction as the card on the secret number and verify that the resultantencrypted number is the same as the resultant encrypted number on acard. Alternatively, for example, the remote server may decrypt thereceived encrypted number to determine the authenticity of the encryptednumber and validate an activity (e.g., validate a security accessrequest or a purchase transaction).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that a card mayinclude an IC chip (e.g., EMV chip), RFID, and a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or encoder). The sameinformation may be communicated through, for example, any number of suchdevices (e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device, RFID, and anEMV chip). A central processor may cause each device to communicate theinformation (in the same format or a different format). Each componentmay have its own processor or driving circuitry. Such individualprocessors or driving circuitry may be coupled to a central processor.An EMV chip may be utilized, for example, to provide control signals toother devices (e.g., circuitry driving a display as well as a dynamicmagnetic communications device). Such an EMV chip may receive signalsprovided by one or more buttons to determine, for example, that aparticular button, or sequence of buttons, was pressed by a user.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-head housing mayinclude, for example, multiple read-heads. A read-head detector may,more generally, detect a read-head housing and, in doing so, detect aread-head.

FIG. 19 shows card 1900 that may include, for example, signature area1940 that may include a material operable to receive marks from a pen(e.g., a signature). Card 1900 may also include, for example, displays1920 and 1930. Display 1920 may, for example, display a payment numberwhile display 1930 displays a security code (e.g., for online purchaseauthentication). Display 1920 as well as display 1930 may be utilized onthe same side as, for example, dynamic magnetic communications device1910.

FIG. 20 shows personal electronic device 2000 which may be, for example,a portable telephonic device, portable media player, or any type ofelectronic device. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thefunctionality of a card may be provided on a personal device anddisplayed through a graphical user interface. Personal electronic device2000 may include, for example, user inputs 2040 and display 2010.Virtual card 2020 may be displayed on display 2020. Display 2020 may bea touch-sensitive display such that, for example, virtual button 2030may be provided on virtual card 2020. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that cards may be provided as virtual cards and a user mayinteract with such virtual cards in order to provide a variety offunctions. Personal electronic device 2000 may communicate to a cardreader such as, for example, an RFID reader.

A display may be bi-stable or non bi-stable. A bi-stable display mayconsume electrical energy to change the information displayed on thebi-stable display but may not consume electrical energy to maintain thedisplay of that information. A non bi-stable display may consumeelectrical energy to both change and maintain information on the nonbi-stable display. A display driving circuit may be provided, forexample, for a bi-stable display (or a non bi-stable display). Such adisplay driving circuit may step-up a supply voltage (e.g., 1-5 volts)to a larger voltage (e.g., 6-15 volts) such that a bi-stable display maychange displayed information. A controller (e.g., a processor) may beutilized to control such a display driving circuit. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may be configured to displaynumerical data or alphanumerical data. A display may also be configuredto display other indicia (e.g., the image of a battery and its remaininglife).

A magnetic stripe reader may, for example, determine information on amagnetic stripe by detecting the frequency of changes in magnetic fields(e.g., flux transversals). A particular frequency of flux transversalsmay correlate to, for example, a particular information state (e.g., alogic “1” or a logic “0”). Accordingly, for example, a magnetic emulatormay change the direction of an electromagnetic field at particularfrequencies in order to communicate a different state of information(e.g., a logic “1” or a logic “0”).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulator mayelectromagnetically communicate information serially by changing themagnitude of an electromagnetic field with respect to time. As such, forexample, a current in a single direction may be provided through amagnetic emulator in order for that magnetic emulator to generate anelectromagnetic field of a single direction and a particular magnitude.The current may then be removed from the magnetic emulator such that,for example, the electromagnetic field is removed. The creation of apresence of an electromagnetic field, and the removal of thatelectromagnetic field, may be utilized to communicate information to,for example, a magnetic stripe reader. A magnetic stripe reader may beconfigured to read, for example, the change in flux versus time and mayassociate an increase in an electromagnetic field (e.g., creation of afield) as one flux transversal and a decrease (e.g., removal of a field)as another transversal. In doing so, for example, driving circuitry (notshown) may be provided which, in turn, controls when current is providedto a magnetic emulator. The timing of magnetic flux transversals, asdetermined by a magnetic stripe reader, may be utilized by that readerto determine whether a logic one (“1”) or logic zero (“0”) wascommunicated. Accordingly, a driving circuit may change the frequency ofwhen current is supplied and removed from a magnetic emulator in orderto communicate a logic one (“1”) or a logic zero (“0”).

A driving circuit may, for example, change the direction of currentsupplied to a magnetic emulator to increase the amount of change in anelectromagnetic field magnitude for a period of time. In doing so, forexample, a magnetic stripe reader may more easily be able to discernoverall changes in an electromagnetic field and, as such, may moreeasily be able to discern information. As such, for example, a drivingcircuit may increase the magnitude of an electromagnetic field byproviding negative current, decrease the amount of negative currentuntil no current is provided and provide an increasing positive currentin order to provide a large swing in the magnitude of an electromagneticfield. Similarly, a driving circuit may switch from providing one amountof negative current (or positive current) to one amount of positivecurrent (or negative current).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a string of a particularbit of data (e.g., a string of logic zeros “0s”) may be communicatedbefore as well as after information is communicated through a magneticemulator. A magnetic stripe reader may utilize such data, for example,to determine base timing information such that the magnetic stripereader has a timing reference that the reader can utilize to assist indetermining timing changes of perceived flux transversals. Accordingly,for example, a magnetic emulator may send data at different overallfrequencies and a magnetic stripe reader may be able to reconfigureitself to receive data at such overall frequencies. Information may beencoded using, for example, Frequency/Double Frequency (F2F) encodingsuch that magnetic stripe readers may perform, F2F decoding.

A processor may control one or more emulators by, for example,controlling the direction of the current supplied through one or moresegments of an emulator. By changing the direction of current through aregion, for example, the direction of an electromagnetic field may bechanged. Similarly, a processor may control one or more emulators by,for example, controlling the change in magnitude of current suppliedthrough one or more segments of an emulator. As such, for example, aprocessor may increase the magnitude of current as well as decrease themagnitude of current supplied through an emulator. A processor maycontrol the timing of such increases and decreases in current such thata magnetic emulator may, for example, communicate F2F encodedinformation.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder)may be fabricated, either completely or partially, in silicon andprovided as a silicon-based chip. Other circuitry (e.g., drivingcircuitry) may also be fabricated on such a silicon-based chip. Aprocessor, such as a processor for controlling a magnetic communicationsdevice, may be, for example, a programmable processor having on-boardprogrammable non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory), volatile memory(e.g., RAM), as well as a cache. Firmware as well as payment information(e.g., dynamic numbers) may be, for example, communicated from aprogramming device to a processor's on-board programmable non-volatilememory (e.g., a FLASH memory) such that a card may provide a variety offunctionalities. Such a processor may also have one or more power-savingoperating modes, in which each operating mode turns OFF a different setof circuitry to provide different levels of power consumption. One ormore power-savings modes may turn OFF, for example, one or more clockingcircuitry provided on a processor. An Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) may also be included in a card or other device toprovide, for example, processing, dynamic magnetic communications, aswell as driving capabilities.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways then those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

1. (canceled)
 2. A computer readable medium having program logicimprinted thereon for performing the method comprising: providing adisplay screen on a device, wherein said display screen includes adisplay region; and providing light pulses from said display region,wherein said light pulses are representative of a coupon.
 3. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 2, wherein said display region is atelevision display region.
 4. The computer readable medium of claim 2,wherein said display region is a webpage display screen.